Montana News Roundup: More Charges for Accused Anaconda Killer

Defense attorneys enter "not guilty" pleas on behalf of the Anaconda man accused of gunning down four people at a local bar last month, as prosecutors add more charges in the case.

Michael Paul Brown is accused of murdering the server at the Owl Bar and three customers on the morning of August 1st. He was arrested after an intensive week-long manhunt that had the community on edge.

Brown was arraigned on Wednesday on the four homicide charges, including additional charges of theft, fleeing from police, and attempted arson. That charge is connected with an attempt to set off a fire or explosive devices inside the bar.

Judge Jeffrey Dahood revoked Brown's initial $2-million bond, ordering him held without bail in Butte because of concerns over his mental health.

     Trial has been set for January.

Now it's Canadian fire smoke

Montana is in for one more day of smoke, as winds shift to the northeast with a cold front moving south out of Canada, bringing a significant concentration of fire smoke to some areas through midday. But gusty winds should start to clear skies by later this afternoon.

Wind advisories are in effect, and boaters on the large lakes, such as Flathead and Fort Peck, are being advised to monitor conditions carefully this afternoon.

     ☀️ Yesterday was still a scorcher in Northwest Montana with unofficial highs showing 101 degrees in Troy, and 102 in Libby, but that was falling just short of a record.

Fishing restrictions removed on 2 more rivers

More good news for anglers. Montana FWP biologists say water temperatures have cooled enough that "hoot owl" fishing restrictions can be lifted on two of the best trout waters in the state just in time for the weekend.

The entire main stem of the Blackfoot River is now free of restrictions, effective today, with the same happening on upper Rock Creek from the confluence of the West and Middle forks to Stoney Creek.

     There were no restrictions on the lower creek.

That's a ton of books!

Montana's First Lady has an ambitious goal for the already successful Imagination Library program, which celebrated its 2nd year of expansion last week in Bozeman.

Susan Gianforte believes the program, with the continued support from founder Dolly Parton and local supporters in the state, has more room to grow.

"Well, I'd like to be at 55% of eligible kids are registered and getting books. And then by the end of the third year, I would like to be two-thirds, which would be 40,000 kids," Gianforte told me in a joint interview with her husband last week.

That's closing in on the total of 59,000 kids, under 5, who are eligible to get the monthly mailed books through the program. She feels it's a "game changer", and will begin making a difference in schools as the first book owners hit kindergarten.

"In a couple years when kids are hitting kindergarten and they are really, if not already reading some, they're ready to learn to read." -Susan Gianforte

"Only 42% of 3rd graders are reading at grade level," notes Governor Gianforte, who points out that's nearly 60% not at that level.

He says that's critical because that's the point in their education where kids are no longer learning to read but "reading to learn." And without those skills, they'll start falling behind in other subjects.

     📚 Parents are encouraged to sign up at the Montana Imagination Library.

More growth for Mullan area

Missoula's planning board is approving another massive project for the city's west side, clearing the way for an additional 670 units in the Paisley Park subdivision in the Mullan area. The Missoula Current reports that, when combined with other adjacent subdivisions, represents another 2000 housing units now approved to come to market.

FWP tries new approach with fruit and bears

Montana FWP is trying something different in the Kalispell area to keep bears and falling fruit from making a deadly combination. FWP is announcing a "Fruit Drive" from September 8th through 12th, where people without fruit trees can drop off their unused ripened fruit, rather than just leaving it out to attract bears.

The fruit will then be taken to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, where some bears are taken after they lose their instinct to eat in the wild.